Will the Iii be like an X-terminal? Why use them and not PCs?
Will the Iii be like an X-terminal? Why use them and not PCs?
- The PC arrived at the same time as the X-terminal.
- For only a little more cost, one can have a PC that emulates X, VT-100s, 3270s, etc. and runs any app.
- PCs provides perceived, infinite flexibilty.
- X-terminals were not especially well marketed. A limited number of suppliers. The result was high prices.
- X-terminals came in before downsizing at a time when a UNIX server’s only function was to serve workstations.
- The high PC maintainence cost is not widely known or understood.
- To get everyone “on line” requires a reliable, maintaintence-free, simple, low, near tv cost, device PCs are short of achieving this.
Notes:
Will this happen to displace the PC as the Internet access device?
For various reasons, X-terminals and diskless workstations were not useful or popular. Similarly, PCs replaced dumb terminals like 3270s and VT100s.
This time may be different: PCs are outside the price reach of most of the world.
The price of telecomputers must be in line with the television sets.